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Friday, 30 August 2019

Today volunteers Richard and Steve along with Engineering & Operations Manager David, collected a variety of tools and equipment, including a lathe, bench grinder, mig welder, pressure washer and pillar drill, that were very kindly donated to us

The Smart & Brown lathe in question, here Workshop and Plant Foreman Richard begins to work out how best to dismantle it and make it easier for transport

401 has been out again today on the final Thursday running day of the summer 2019 holidays. Today we also welcomed two friends from Tanfield Railway/Beamish Musuem, Matthew and David Watchman, who joined us for a day out on the footplate. Here, Matthew, Katie, David and Joe set to work cleaning

At Percy Main with the first train

Ran-round

Steve driving, on the climb out of Percy Main

Joe putting a round on

Taking water after arriving back at Middle Engine Lane

Down at Percy Main again in the South Headshunt

Matthew driving and David firing

Ready to depart

Matthew driving on the run back up to Middle Engine Lane

Back at Middle Engine Lane, after letting passengers off the train, Matthew draws the train forward to allow enough room to be able to run round

Changeover on the next run

Matthew firing

David driving

Watching the road ahead

David finding big valve on the bank

David (L) and Matthew (R) Watchman on the ground and Fireman Joe Stuart (L) and Driver Steve Thornton (R) on the running board

Saturday, 24 August 2019

The before shot of the ballasted area outside the museums flat road. This years Santa Specials will be changing so that the roller shutter door in this photo is the main exit from the museum for visitors, this means that this area is to be dug up and cemented level with the museum floor/concrete apron so that is more comfortable for people to walk on

Volunteers Richard and Steve began the project this afternoon, seen here using the tractor to begin digging

Large piece of old concrete being dug up

After a lot of man handling and use of the crowbar we managed to get it into the bucket of the tractor

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About NTSR

The Association that operates the railway was formed in 1977 as The Monkwearmouth Station Museum Association for the purpose of assisting the then named Tyne & Wear Joint Museums Service to restore railway related items at the former Goods Shed at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. The first items to receive members attention were Consett Iron Company's diesel locomotive No.10 and steam locomotive A.No.5.
We have a purpose built train shed consisting of a locomotive stabling space, a locomotive workshop and a carriage and wagon workshop.
The actual railway runs from Middle Engine Lane (shed & museum) two miles towards Percy Main terminus, going past Silverlink retail centre and roughly following the old British Rail lines. Trains run every Sunday and bank holiday from April to October, including Santa Specials in December, every year. Many different events are held including a Day Out With Thomas event during the peak of summer time.
Additional exhibits have been acquired by Tyne Wear Museums & Archives (who now operate the site); North Tyneside Council, and ourselves. As well as carrying out restoration and maintenance work on these, our volunteers operate the railway.